After Be-Bop-A-Lula had become a huge hit in 1956 (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps (often mis-named as 'the' Blue Caps) were unable to follow it up with the same level of commercial success, but released critically acclaimed songs like Race With The Devil (#96 in Billboard) and Bluejean Bop (#49).
Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in England and France. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. In 1960, while on tour in Britain, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak leg which he had injured in a motorcycle accident in 1955 and refused to have amputated, and Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Both Vincent and Sheeley survived, but the accident killed Vincent's tourmate and Sheeley's fiancé, Eddie Cochran.
Vincent subsequently moved to England in 1963. His stage shows became "must see" events and his bands through those years were to spawn some of the most respected players in the world today. It was during his early tours of Britain that he adopted the trademark leather outfit, at the suggestion of British Rock 'n' Roll impressario, Jack Good.
Sunshine
Gene Vincent Lyrics
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You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
I'll always love you and make you happy,
If you will only say the same.
But if you leave me and love another,
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
You told me once, dear, you really loved me
And no one else could come between.
But now you've left me and love another
You have shattered all of my dreams:
The lyrics of Gene Vincent's "You Are My Sunshine" speak of the love and affection of a person for their significant other. The first two lines, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray," convey a sense of happiness and warmth. These lines, which are repeated with some variation throughout the song, suggest that the subject, perhaps a lover or a child, is the source of joy and light in the singer's life.
The second part of the song, "I'll always love you and make you happy, if you will only say the same," speaks of a love that is conditional on the reciprocation of the other person's affections. The third line, "But if you leave me and love another, you'll regret it all some day," hints at the singer's possessiveness and insecurity. The final lines, "Please don't take my sunshine away," express the singer's fear of losing the person who brings light into their life.
In sum, "You Are My Sunshine" is a bittersweet love song that speaks to the universal experience of loving another person and the vulnerability that comes with it.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jimmie Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pete Andrews
Beautiful, Gene always had a fantastic voice!!
Bucciarati's Left Shoulder Zipper
DAMN. How soulful is this, huh? Just simply beautiful.
anetayea
helplessly in love with you Gene, I am sure you are still singing where you are now, how could you not. What a singer!
Myles Geronimo
Thanks for the upload. I've got a couple of compilations, but never heard this song before. It's a gem. Rock on !!
MrJeaude
j'aime toujours autant Gene .....depuis un soir de 1957 ou j'ai découvert cette fabuleuse voix.
francksol
inoubliable Gene ...pour l'eternité...fantastic singer..think you Silver..
Denis vanouk
Impossible a oublier
Tommy S
My new favourite song. Great video.
abdon1er
gene the great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bianca Bagnolet
c'est toujours aussi génial